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IMPORTANT

The Owner's Manual for this vehicle contains warnings, instructions and other information you must read and fully understand before safely riding or performing maintenance on this vehicle. Always follow the warnings and instructions in Owner's Manual.

Click the link above for the Table Of Contents, or download a full PDF of the Owner Manual in the Owner Support area of Polaris.com.

Shifting Gears While Driving

WARNING
Downshifting improperly could cause transmission damage, loss of traction and loss of control, which could result in serious injury or death.

  • Reduce speed before downshifting. Always downshift within the recommended shift points.

  • Use extreme caution when downshifting on wet, slippery or other low traction surfaces. Release the clutch lever very gradually in these conditions.

  • Avoid downshifting in a curve. Downshift before entering the curve.

  1. Start the engine. See Starting the Engine.

  2. With the engine at idle speed, apply the front brakes.

  3. Disengage the clutch (pull the clutch lever fully toward the handlebar).

  4. Push the toe lever downward until you feel it stop in first gear.

  5. Release the brake lever.

  6. Simultaneously release the clutch lever while opening the throttle (rolling the throttle control grip rearward) in one smooth motion. As the clutch begins to engage, the motorcycle will move forward.

  7. To shift to a higher gear, accelerate smoothly to the recommended shift point. See Recommended Shift Points chart. With a quick motion, simultaneously close the throttle completely and disengage the clutch. Raise the toe shift lever until you feel it stop at the next gear. Simultaneously release the clutch lever and open the throttle in one smooth motion.

  8. To shift to a lower gear (downshift), simultaneously pull the clutch lever toward the handlebar and close the throttle. Move the toe shift lever downward until you feel it stop at the next gear. Simultaneously release the clutch lever while opening the throttle.
TIP
Within the recommended speed ranges (see Recommended Shift Points chart), you can downshift to slow the motorcycle or to increase power. You may want to downshift when climbing a hill or passing. Downshifting also helps to decrease speed when combined with closing the throttle.
Parent topic: Shifting Gears